CSC 463: Self-Directed Learning: Advanced CS Topics : 3 hours

Description

Students will pick one advanced cutting edge topic (typically an aspect of cloud computing, machine learning, big data, Internet of Things, or mobile computing), develop their own learning goals and strategies, get them approved and learn the material on their own and present their results in both a written and verbal format. Students will be required to develop a project to demonstrate what they have learned. Can be taken up to two times as long as the topic is different. Topics must also differ from those taken in CSC 310, CSC 312 and CSC 314.

Goals for CSC 463 are:

1. Develop life long learning skills

Course outcomes for CSC 463 are:

• Upon complete of CSC 463 students will know:
  • how to direct their own self learning for future tasks
  • how to demonstrate the ideas they have learned
  • how to identify security and ethical issues in a topic of their own choosing.

Program outcomes for CSC 463 are:

1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions. (Computing student learning outcome 1)
2. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts. (Computing student learning outcome 3)
3. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal, ethical, and moral principles. (Computing student learning outcome 4)
4. Learn new areas of technology. (Computing student learning outcome 6)
5. Apply security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats. (Cyber Security student learning outcome 1)

Integration

1. Life long learning skills by learning a complete topic on their own
2. Technical communication skills by making at least 2 verbal presentations (on recorded) and writing a significant report (10 pages) on what was learned

Details

• Professor: Dr. Cathy Bareiss
• Office SB 31
• Class Time: 9:30-10:50 R
• Class Location: S 025
• Textbook: Student membership in ACM

Course Content

Policies

• Classroom etiquette
• Educational Philosophy
• Integrity
• Late work . Because of the nature of the class, no late work will be presented. If there is a very unusual reason (that was unexpected) arrangements might be considered. Running out of time and/or forgetting the deadline will not qualify for this.

Assignments

• One presentation must be a pre-recorded virtual presentation. The student may choose which one is virtual. Any remote students at a difficult time zone may choose to do all as a pre-recorded presentation. Any remote student in an easy time zone will need to do do of the virtual presentations in a live manner The pre-recorded presentations are due at midnight (their time) the evening before the schedule presentation (not a minute late). Because of the different time zones, most students will be NOT presented with the option to turn in their presentations late. This is not acceptable and will earn a 20% reduction of points.

1. Background presentations
   1. At least 10 minutes
   2. Introduction of the topic and why it was chosen
   3. For the topic:
      • What has been learned thus far
      • What more needs to be learned
   4. For the learning:
      • What has gone well thus far
      • What has not gone well thus far
2. Main work
   1. At least 20 minutes
   2. Summarization of the topic
   3. Final goal
   4. For the topic: (This is the progress and next steps from lecture)
      • What work products have been created and need to be created
      • What major things have been learned since the last time
      • What is next
   5. For the learning (This is the lesson learned from lecture)
      • How has schedule been working
      • What have you experienced while learning that was unexpected
      • Any additional insights into learning
3. Final Presentation
   1. At least 15 minutes
   2. Options:
      1. It can just cover the topics below in more detail, or
      2. Cover other material that is appropriate for the major of the time and then cover the items below briefly at the end (or beginning, whichever is appropriate)
   3. For the topic you learned:
      • Brief summarization of background knowledge
      • Overview of major items learned about the technology
      • Short demo of software (if developed) or
      • Outline of major points of paper in the area of the technology
      • Any challenges with the technology that you overcame
   4. For the learning
      • Challenges in the area of learning that you overcame
      • How you overcame them
      • Self assessment of your learning

• Poster
  • It does NOT need to be a hard copy but the document needs to be format so that it is completely ready to be printed by a color poster printer (right size, etc.)
  • It should cover one item associated with one aspect of all that you learned during the course (about the topic, about learning, etc.)
  • It should have some visual appeal, but I am definitely not an artist. I will not require a high quality from you than what I would be able to do myself
  • The grade will be based on how well you communicated the content and the appropriateness of the content
• Paper
  • 10 to 15 pages singled space (more to the 15 than 10 is expected) not including any title page, table of content, references
  • Technical writing is very important
  • There needs to be a section (should be at least 1/2 page) about your learning experience.
  • This paper's goal is to demonstrate what you have learned and possibly created. It should not cover everything you have learned because some of the things you learned eventually did not contribute to the work but you did not know that until after you learned them.

Extra credit

These is not extra credit for this course

Grades

Your grades are made up of:

• 5% is for the poster
• 10% for turning in weekly progress reports. One may be missed. You are to use the following form: https://bethel-university.formstack.com/forms/cs_work_tracker
• 15% for the presentations in class (4%, 5%, 6% for each one, respectively)
  • Maximum grade is limited by the time taken. The time must be on task and appropriate to count
    • If the time is < 25% of the assigned time, the maximum grade is a D
    • If the time is < 50% of assigned time, the maximum grade is a C+
    • If the time is < 75% of assigned time, the maximum grade in a B+
    • If the time is between 76% and 105%, the maximum grade is an A+
    • If the time is over 105%, the maximum grade is a B+
  • The presentation quality will then impact the grade.
    • If the presentation quality is poor and/or needs major work the grade will drop down two marks (from a B+ to a B- as an example)
    • If the presentation is ok (room for improvement but acceptable) the grade will drop down one mark (from a B+ to a B as an example)
    • If the presentation is excellent, the grade will stay as is
  • Content
    • If the content is missing three or more majors points, or poorly covers all, the grade will drop down four marks
    • If the content is missing one or two majors points, or poorly covers 3 points, the grade will drop down two marks
    • If the content covers all points at an acceptable level (with only one or two points needing improvement), the grade will drop down one mark
    • If the content covers all points very well, the grade will not drop down any points.
• 5% for the summarization of other presentations (for each category, you may skip two other than your own). Should include the following
  • a very brief description of the project
  • a list of the major points presented
  • what could be done with the project to make it better
  • any insights you have gained from it
  • what did you leave the presentation wanting to know.
• 5% for regular individual meetings with the professor. Once every 3 weeks the student must arrange a 10 minute meeting with the professor to discuss his/her work thus far. 5 meetings are required. To miss a meeting without a good reason will cause a lose of major points. To not be prepared to report on the status in a meeting will cause of lose of a few points.
• 10% draft of the final products (due Nov. 1st)
• 50% final products (due Dec. 9th) . This is the paper
• Grade scale
  • 93% <= average <= 100% → A
  • 90% <= average < 93% → A-
  • 87% <= average < 90% → B+
  • 83% <= average < 87% → B
  • 80% <= average < 83% → B-
  • 77% <= average < 80% → C+
  • 73% <= average < 77% → C
  • 70% <= average < 73% → C-
  • 67% <= average < 70% → D+
  • 63% <= average < 67% → D
  • 60% <= average < 63% → D-
  • 0% <= average < 60% → F

Tentative Schedule

Thursday
8/22: How to succeed, Course Overview, etc.
8/29: Background Presentation (group A): Tyler, Nate, Nic, Gustavo
9/05: Background Presentation (group B): Kane, Zac, Noah J, Aaron
9/12: Background Presentation (group C): Joshua, Erik, Noah K , George
9/19: Background Presentation (group D): Addison, Manel, Enmanuel
9/26: Transition to main work
10/3: Class cancelled
10/10: Fall break
10/17: CCSC:RM: Main work (group E): Erik, Joshua, Enmanuel (virtually)
10/24: Main work (group F): Nic, Tyler, Addison
10/31: Main work (group G): Kane, Aaron, Zac (group closed)
11/07: Main work (group H): George, Manel, Noah K (group closed)
11/14: Main work (group I): Noah J, Nate, Gustavo (group closed)
11/21: Wrapping things up
11/28 Thanksgiving break
12/05: Final Presentations (Group J: Nic, Tyler, George) (Group M to have it recorded by Monday of next week: Nathan, Enmanuel, Gustavo, Addison)
12/12: Final Exam: 8:00-10:00 Final Presentation (Groups K,L): Noah J, Manel, Zac (v), Aaron, Joshua, Noah K, Kane

Campus Integrity Policy

The student handbook (p. 156) states: “Any act of deceit, falsehood or stealing by unethically copying or using someone else’s work in an academic situation is strictly prohibited.

1. A student found guilty of plagiarism or cheating will receive an “F”(zero) for that particular paper, assignment or exam. Should this occur, the professor will have an interview with the student and will submit a written report of the incident to the academic dean.
2. If a second offense should occur, the student will be asked to appear before the professor, the academic dean and the vice president for student development.
   
   

The student should realize that at this point continuation in a course and even his/her academic career may be in jeopardy. In the event of a recommendation for dismissal, the matter shall be referred to the Student Development Committee.”

AI Use Policy

It is expected that any coursework (including, but not limited to, essays, papers, exams, projects, and lab reports) submitted by a student will be a product of their own creation, demonstrating their achievement of the learning outcomes related to the assigned task. With this in mind, note that submitting work that includes unauthorized or undocumented use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be considered as cheating or plagiarism. If you are unsure about appropriate use of AI on a given assignment, talk with your professor.

Services

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law which provides civil rights protection for people with disabilities. Bethel University, in compliance with equal access laws, requests that students with disabilities seeking to acquire accommodations make an appointment with the Center for Academic Success—Disability Services. It is located in the Miller-Moore Academic Center, 033. You may also phone 574-807-7460 or email rachel.kennedy@betheluniversity.com.edu for an appointment.

Education Majors:

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